Safety control fuel valve



Jan. 6, 1953 W. A. RAY

SAFETY CONTROL FUEL VALVE Filed De c. 14. 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l at 1k asG '26 I I9 .254 Z 5 5 I6 6 2o l7 (ll/AL/HM A7. 24;,

INVEN TOR.

HTTOENEV Jan. 6, 1953 w. A. RAY 2,624,358

SAFETY CONTROL FUEL. VALVE Filed Dec. 14, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 e5 i GIw/LuflM A7. ,QHV,

INVEN TOR.

HTTOQIV EV e9 e9 e1 68 la 'ZI 4 56 i -6"-'"4"s l 44 i I i 45 40 I 49 557 47 l 54 l I Jan. 6, 1953 w. A. RAY ,6 8

SAFETY CONTROL FUEL. VALVE Filed Dec. 14, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 "ll 6672 7| IO w/LL/flM AI. 29;,

INVENTOR.

QTTOQNEV Jan. 6, 1953 w, A, RAY 2,624,358

SAFETY CONTROL FUEL VALVE' Filed Dec. 14, 1948 '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 amiglso /r27 (1 4. w/LunM fl. EH5 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 6, 1953 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE] 'WiHiam'A. RamNorth;Hollywood, Cali-f; assignor to General Gontro'ls-=C0., a corporation ofCali- :fornia Application December 14, 194.8}.Se1ia] No. 65,113

This invention relates main rotary plug structure for controlling the to"a ifue'l valve struce ture," and especially to 70116 that'inc'orporatesra 3 Claims;- (01. 131-456) flow 'oft"'fnel'. to"a'maintburner," as well asa' safetyyalve "structure" that can .ibeopened only when the 'p'lugiis in'a position'to interrupt flowof'fuel'to' a :main'burner. The saftyi valvestructure"can"be maintainedin open position only while the pilot burner is burning. Thus, upon"failure ofthe pilot" fiamethe safetywalve closes,

and flow of fuel to. both the main and pilot burners is. interrupted.

To. resettthe valve,'itiis' necessary first to turntheplug' toa'iful'lyclosed position. The handle? operating the plug is then movedstill" further to. operate the safetyivalve; the safety valve, whileheld 'in'openposition' by the? handle; servesv to pass fuel to the pilot-bi'irne'r. Now thatburner can be ignitedpand shortly thereafter thehandle can be released, and the safety valve closure is held'in positionby aforce existing .by virtueof the plug.

the existence of the pilot flame; can be rotated to supply fuelto themain burner. Such a system in general isflshownjmeprior application,Serial No. 55;119',ifiled 'Odtober 1.8;; 1948;..in the nameuof WilliamA. Ray .and' en-- titled: Automatic-SafetyValve for Fuel Bu'rners. 'Thisapplication is a continuation, in

part," of said prior application In thatprior .applicatio'n, thessafetyvalve structure is; latched in .open. positiomlafter the. pilotburner is'ignitediby the aidlofsan electrop. magnet Ithat is energized by van,thermocouple. The thermoccuplelhas .a hot. junctionvheated by' the pilotflame; and;,altliciugh!the.electricalenergy. thus generated. 'hy. thethermocouple. is

quite small, lyetlit is sufii'cientto move a-latchv into. holdingposition The" present. invention utilizes substantially the same valve.closure. structures; but. instead of .opera'tinga latch,l.theel'ectromagnet-is used to hold the safety valveclosure structure in openpositionby magnetic attraction-ordain armaeture connected.todtheclosurafl-The.force exerted by. the electromagnet isinsufficienta. to at tractits armature. when his in-the position correspondingto.closing of. the safety valve.' The safety'valve. closure is accordinglyso arranged that it places the armature to attracted position when theclosure is manually moved-to open-- position. Once the armature. isthus. moved to attracted position, .the electromagnet hassufficientpower to hold it-and the .safetyvalve closure against a biasingforceltendinglto close the safety valve;

It is one ofthe objectsof 'thisinventionto improve, m general; apparatusof this character:

More specifically; it is an object of this inverr--- tion to simplifythe electromagnetic structure,-

and particularly to make it possible to remove' and replace theelectromagnet for repairs and renewal without disturbing the valve mechaIt is still another object of "this 'inventiorr "to" provide a simpleand compact valve structure;

This invention-possessesmany other advan ta'ges; and hasother'objectswhich fmay be'made" more' clearly apparent from a"consideration" of a form in which it may be embodied; Thisform'" isshown inth e drawings accompanying. and

forming :part' of the'presentspecificatlon'." It

will now be described in "detail; 'for'the" purpose:

of illustratingthe- :generaiprinciples of the invention; but 'it is "tobe understood that such de'- taileddescription is not to be taken-in 'a'limiting sense," since the scope of theinventionfis ,best'" definedbythe appended" claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 isa vertical sectionof avalve'struotum-incorporating the invention; thesafety 'valve being inclosedposition;

Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the safety valveheldopen position byope'ra? tion of "the pilot burner;

Fig; 3 is a; sectional viewftakenalong plane Fig. 4 is a sectionalview;:tal en:a1ong plane"- Fig; '5 is "a diagrammatic" sectionalviw;"taken" along plane 5*5 of "Fig; ,v and illustrating the pilot'and mainburners; and

Fi'gzq6 is a pictorial view of one of thehrackets 1 used in connection"with: the invention. v

body 1.

be described -.her einaf.ter-

The chamber 2 leads to apor-t L which is formed-- m that part of thebody-i that provides a tapered seat I2 for the plug 6. Accordingly, inorder to pass fuel to outlet conduit 4 and to a main burner 8 (Fig. itis necessary to turn the plug 6 in a clockwise direction; and it isnecessary that the port I be open to the inlet chamber 2.

The body I has an open top which is sealed by a flexible diaphragm 9.This flexible diaphragm 9 rests upon a packing ring I9, and is urged tosea-ling relationship by the aid of a flange of a supplemental housingor casing 6| extending above the diaphragm 9 and exteriorly thereof.

The plug 6 rests in the conical seat I2 defined by a seat-forming sleevemember I3. This sleeve member I3 may be appropriately cast into acorresponding aperture in the body I.

The port I defines an annular tapered safety valve seat I4 at itsleft-hand end. A safety valve closure structure cooperates with the seatI4 optionally to close and open the port I. This closure structureincludes a resilient disc I5 (made of rubber or similar material). Thisdisc I5 is held against a metal backing plate I6, as by a ring II thatis turned inwardly at its edges. Plate I6 is provided with an ear I8pivotally mounted on a lever I9 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4). A metal washer20, through which the ear I8 passes, is urged against the backing memberI6 by a bowed leaf spring 2 I. The left-hand convex edge of this leafspring 2I is restrained by the ribs of the lever I9.

In the closed position of Fig. l, the disc I5 engages the tapered seatI4, and the flow of fuel is interrupted between the inlet conduit 3 andthe outlet conduit 4.

The lever I9 is pivoted upon a pin 22. This pin 22 is accommodated inears 23 (Figs. 3 and 6) formed integrally with a bracket 23. Thisbracket 24 has a downwardly extending portion 25 that forms a cup toaccommodate the lower end of a compression Spring 26 that urges thelever I9 to valve closing position. The bracket 24 isattached to thebosses 62 formed integrally with the body I.

The upper end of compression spring 26 urges a cup-like member 21upwardly and into contact with a projection 28 formed on the end of thelever I9. v

The plug 6 is urged against its seat I2 by the aid of a compressionspring 29. The lower end of this spring 29 is seated in an appropriaterecess in the top of the plug 6. Its upper end engages the cross arm ofthe bracket 24. 7

Opening of the safety valve closure structure to the position of Fig. 2is effected by the aid of mechanism shown most clearly in Fig. 3.. Apush rod 39 is slidably' mountedfor vertical movement in the body I andhas a'reduced upper portion 3I. This portion is guided by aperture 3|(Fig. 6) of bracket 24. Normally, the push rod 30 is urged downwardlyout of operating position by the aid of a compression spring 32surrounding the reduced portion 3i. The upper end of this springis-confined by a portion of the bracket 24. Its lower end engages awasher 33'seated on the shoulder formed by the push rod 30 and thereduced portion '3I. A packing washer 34 is seated in a recess35 formedin the body I.

Upon upward movement of the push rod 39 an arm 36 attached to the leverI9 is urged upwardly so as to rock the lever I9 in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 1.

In order to urge the push rod 30 upwardly, use is made of a crank 31pivotally mounted in a, recess 38 of the body member I. The crank 31 isactuated by an extension 39 (Figs. 1 and 3)' car- 4 ried by an operatinghandle structure shown most clearly in Fig. 1.

Thus, the handle structure includes a sleeve 49 having an enlarged skirtat its upper edge. The operating arm 39 extends through a slot in thisskirt portion. It is formed integrally with an outer race II. This outerrace is joined to the inside of the sleeve 40 as by welding, so thatrotation of the sleeve 49 causes corresponding movement of operating arm39. Ball bearings 42 are confined by race AI against the shoulder formedby the hollow extension 43 of the sleeve I3. A confining ring 44 isdisposed around the ball bearings 42 and rests against the lower surfaceofv the body I. The outer race 4| is held in place by a split ring 45that engages the Washer 46.

The lower end of the sleeve 40 accommodates the transverse arms 41 of anactuator member 48. This actuating member 48 serves to rotate plug 3.For this purpose, it has a, projection. (Figs. 1 and 4) which engages.loosely in the slot 50 formed in the bottom of the plug 6. The arms 4'!are urged tightly against the lower edge of the transverse openings 5iin sleeve 40 by the aid of a screw 52. This screw 52 passes through a.manual operating handle 53, and is threaded into the member 48. A covermember 54 extends over the arm 47, and is provided with diametrically,

opposed recesses 55 within which the arms 41 engage.

Movement of the handle 53 thus causes a corresponding rotary movement ofthe sleeve 40. Upon a sufiioient movement of the handle 53, the arm 39engages the crank 31 (Fig. 3) and causes the safety valve structure toopen. Upon release of the handle 53, the compression spring 32 (Fig.

3) urges the push rod 30 downwardly.

Unless the afety valve closure structure is held in the open position,either manually or other.- wise, this safety valve closure structurereassumes the closed position of, Fig. 1, under the open. For thispurpose a port 59 (Fig. 5) is used I which communicates with the port 56and thence with the slot 66 formed in the plug 6.

There is considerable lost motion between the projection 49 and the slot59 (Fig. 4). Due. to the lost motion, the force of spring 32 (Fig. 3)when handle 53 is released, urges the actuator to the central orinactive position without the neces- Since the plug 6 is left sity ofrotating plug 8. stationary during this return movement, the frictionbetween the plug and its seat 29 is inefiectiv to restrain movement ofthe actuator 48.

The plug 6, once the safety valve is opened and held in open position,canv be turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, to alignport 56 with the ports 5 and 'I. In that position the passage of fuel tothe pilot burner is maintained through the slot 59. A ball'detent I30(Figs. 3

and 4) located in body I cooperateswith arm 39.

to provide a yielding resistance to clockwise movement of theplug 6beyond fully. open position. However, since-the detent I30 may be depressed, the plug 6 may-be, turned to a fully inactive position bymoving ita half .revolution from the position .of Fig. 5.

As .shown mostclearly in Fig. 4, the actuator 4'8: is. providedwith stopabutments I23 and I24 that limit the angular movement of the actuatorwith respectto .stop I22 formed on the projection 41. of sleeve Hi. Inthis way, the valve plug 6 can be moved onlypthrough the desiredcontrolling angles...

In order-.to hold the safety valve. closure mechanismin theopen positionof Fig. .2 while the pilot burner 5'!- is ignited, use is made. of anelectromagnetic structure energized by the aid of a thermocouple .63(Fig. 5). This thermocouple 6.3; has a, hotv junction adapted to be,inserted in the.v pilot flame. 64.. The thermocouple is connected to-an,electromagnet coil 65. This electromagnet coil is disposed over oneleg of a magnetic core 66. The connection to the coil 65 may be effectedby the aid of a pair of binding posts 61 supported on a wall of thesupplemental casing 6!. The electro-magnet structure, including thecoil: 65 and the core 66, are held in place with respect to the top wallof the casing 6| by the aid of a non-magnetic cover member 66. Thiscover member 68 has a flange 69 contacting the lower side of the uppercasing wall. A plate 16, disposed ontop of the casing 6|, serves as abase for the. accommodation of the fastening screws 1| passing throughthe flange 69. The plate 16 can, if desired, be utilized as a name platefor the device. A cover E2 of non-magnetic material may be disposed overthe coil 65.

The legs of the core 66 project through appropriate apertures in thebottom of cover 68 so as to be disposed within the casing 6|.

Cooperating with the core 66 is a disc armature 13. This armature 13,when the safety valve closure is opened, is urged into contact with thepolar areas of core 66. For this purpose the armature is mounted on aheaded stud 14 which, in turn, is fastened as by riveting to an arm 15.This arm 15 is channel-shaped in section, and is attached, as by the aidof the screws 16 to the lever l9. The screws 16 pass through thediaphragm 9, as well as through an interposed fabric member H. In thisway the armature and its supporting elements are mounted on the lever [Banddiaphragm 9.

A light compression spring 18 is interposed between the end of the arm15 and the lower surface of the armature 13. In this way, there isenough freedom of movement of armature 13 so that it may accuratelyalign itself with the lower polar areas of the core 66.

Since the lever [B is pivotally mounted on pin 22, movement of thislever about the pin 22, when the handle 53 is moved to safety valveopening position, lifts the armature 13 into contact with core 66. Ifthe pilot flame 64 is not in existence, the armature '13 will drop awayto the position of Fig. 1 upon release of the handle 53. Furthermore,lifting movement of the armature 13 to cooperative position with thecore 66 in the manner described is essential, since the power generatedby aid of the thermocouple 63 is not sufficient to attract the armature13 from the position of Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 2.

The casing 6 I, with the core 66 and coil 65, may be removed andreplaced as a unit. This facilitates repair or replacement whenrequired. The armature l3 and its cooperating supports do not interferewith the removal of the casing and the parts that it carries.

6. Operation of the system may be best explained in connection withFigs. 1, 2 and 5.

When the system is inactive, the plug 6 is in the positionofFig. 5. Inthis position, the passage of fuel to the pilot burner 51 and to themain burner 6' is prevented by the safety valve closure structure. Whenit is desired to initiate the operation of the system, the handle 53 isturned, as permitted by the lost motion between the projection 49 andthe slot 56 formed inthe bottom of the plug 6. This movement causes thearm 39 to rock'the. crank 31 (Fig. 3). Rod 39 is moved upwardly andmoves the arm 36 attached to the.

lever I9, so as to rock the lever [9 to the open position of Fig. 2. Inthis position fuel to the pilot burner only is supplied by aid of theport 59, port 56, and slot 69. Now the pilot burner may be ignited. As.soon as the flame 64 is in existence, while holding handle 53 in safetyvalve opening position, the electromagnet coil 65 is energized and holdsthe armature 13 in the open position of Fig. 2. The handle 53 may now bereleased. The safety valve being open, the plug 6 may be manipulated tosupply fuel to the burner 8 through outlet conduit 6.

In order that the system may respond to a condition of operation such astemperature, use may be made of an electromagnetically operated valve 79(Fig. 5) interposed in the conduit 4. This electromagnetically operatedvalve is energized and tie-energized in accordance with a temperatureresponsive switch 89, such as a thermostatic switch. Accordingly, nofuel can pass to burner 8 unless both the plug 6 is in open position andthe valve 19 is opened in response to temperature conditions.

The inventor claims:

1. In a safety valve structure: a Valve body providing a plug valveseat; a plug in said seat; said body having inlet and outlet portsopening in said seat; a flexible diaphragm forming a chamber in the bodyin connection with the inlet portion; said body providing a safety valveseat in the chamber; a pivoted safety closure in the chamber andattached to the diaphragm, said diaphragm being movable upon movement ofthe closure; an electromagnet supported exterior of the diaphragm; anarmature cooperating with the electromagnet; said electromagnet beingnormally incapable of attracting and holding the armature until thearmature is moved from its unattracted position into a juxtapositionwith the electromagnet and to an attracted position; an arm forsupporting the armature and attached to the diaphragm and the safetyvalve closure; said arm when the safety valve closure is opened, servingto move the armature to said attracted position; and means biasing thesafety valve closure to closed position; to return the safety valveclosure to closed position independently of the position of the mainplug valve.

2. In a valve structure: a valve body providing a plug valve seat andhaving inlet and outlet ports opening in said seat, as well as a chambercommunicating with one of said ports; a rotary plug in said seat; anoperator for the plug; means forming a lost motion connection betweenthe plug and the operator; a safety valve closure structure in thechamber for controlling the said one of the ports, and including apivotally mounted member and a closure carried by the member; a flexiblewall defining said chamber and attached to the member; means urging saidsafety valve closure to closed position; means responsive to a rotarymovement of the operator within an angle during which the plug valve isclosed, for opening the safety valve closure; an electromagnet supportedexterior of the wall; an armature cooperating with the electromagnet;said electromagnet being normally incapable of attracting and holdingthe armature until the armature is moved from its unattracted positioninto juxtaposition with the electromagnet and to an attracted position;and an arm for supporting the armature and attached to the wall and tothe safety valve closure; said arm when the safety valve closure isopened, serving to move the armature to said attracted position; saidurging means serving to move the closure to closed position when theelectromagnet is deenergized, irrespective of the position of the plug.

3. In a valve structure: a valve body providing a plug valve seat andhaving inlet and outlet ports opening in said seat, as well as a chambercommunicating with one of said ports; a rotary plug in said seat; anoperator for the plug; means forming a lost motion connection betweenthe plug and the operator; a safety valve closure structure in thechamber for controlling the said one of the ports, and including apivotally mounted member and a closure carried by the member; a flexiblewall defining said chamber and attached to the member; means urging saidsafety valve closure to closed position; means responsive to a rotarymovement of the operator 8. within an angle during which the plug valveis closed, for opening the safety valve closure; a detachable casingdisposed over the wall and forming a space bounded by the wall and thecasing; an electro-magnet supported exterior of the wall; terminal meansfor the electromagnet supported by the casing; an armature cooperatingwith the electromagnet; said electromagnet being normally incapable ofattracting and holding the armature until the armature is moved from itsunattracted position into juxtaposition with the electromagnet and to anattracted position; and an arm in the casing and attached to the movablewall and the safety valve closure, for supporting the armature; said armwhen the safety valve closure is opened, serving to move the armature tosaid attracted position; said urging means serving to move the closureto closed position when the electromagnet is deenergized, irrespectiveof the position of the plug.

WILLIAM A. RAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,354,704 Ray Aug. 1, 19442,472,384 Ray June '7, 1949

